2022 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle
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Hassanal Bolkiah carried out the seventh reshuffle of his government on 7 June 2022,[1] appointing the first female cabinet minister and replacing seven ministers.[2] The announcement was delivered during a televised speech at 3:00 pm.[3] The previous cabinet had been reshuffled in 2018 for a five-year term,[4][5] the sultan unexpectedly introduced this significant change midway through 2022.[6]
This cabinet reshuffle brought about several significant changes. Romaizah Mohd Salleh was appointed as minister of education, marking a historic milestone as the first female minister since the government's establishment in 1959. The sultan retained control of key portfolios, including foreign affairs, finance, defence, and the prime ministership.[7] Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah continued his role as senior minister in the PMO, while Abu Bakar Apong, the home affairs minister and the second-longest serving cabinet member after Isa Ibrahim, was replaced. Unlike the usual five-year term, all new appointments will serve four-year terms.[2]
The sultan emphasised that the appointments represent a trust that must be honoured with unwavering loyalty and accountability as he announced the new lineup of ministers and deputy ministers.[a][9] A local media analyst, speaking anonymously to Xinhua, suggested that the early cabinet reshuffle was aimed at injecting fresh energy and enthusiasm into the administrative system while maintaining stability in critical areas of both domestic and international affairs.[6]
This was the first and only significant cabinet reshuffle carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei.[10]
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Junior ministerial changes
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| Minister[10] | Position before reshuffle | Result of reshuffle[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khairuddin Abdul Hamid | Permanent Secretary (Investment) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy | Became Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy | |
| Abdul Razak Abdul Kadir | Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force | Became Deputy Minister of Defence | |
| Marzuke Mohsin | Deputy Minister of Development | Left the government | |
| Pengiran Bahrom | Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs | Left the government | |
| Pengiran Mohammad Tashim | Judge of the Syariah Appeal Court[c] | Became Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs | |
| Pengiran Zety Sufina | Permanent Secretary (Industry) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy | Became Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy | |
| Sufian Sabtu | Permanent Secretary (Safety, Enforcement and Law) at the Prime Minister's Office | Became Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office | |
| Riza Yunos | Permanent Secretary (Media and Cabinet) at the Prime Minister's Office | Became Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office | |